more bugs....

Guess What?

We found another bug no one likes :)

These are Salt Marsh Caterpillars and they are known for wreaking havoc on crops and in the swamp. These huge fuzzy caterpillars are everywhere at our favorite outdoor place to visit. The kids had great fun playing with them. Well, except for the white ones which seems to have stinging hairs on them...... that one was promptly dropped.... lesson learned. Fortunately the sting wasn't bad..... the longer we live here the more amazed I am by all the bugs!

This is a banana spider..... they get HUGE!!

By far my favorite thing to take pictures of is my kids out there exploring nature. Watching them look at each little creepy crawlie and plant and bird and whatever else is on their path. I'm sure many of you have heard of or read Last Child in the Woods. The book talks about all the things kids miss out on in a nature deprived childhood and how important it is for kids to develop a relationship with nature. So many kids are spending so little time outside. How can we teach our kids to save the world if they don't know it? If they don't know the smell of the earth and the feel of a slippery frog. The noise of different sized rocks splashing into the water. The excitement of watching a huge bird glide over the water to catch a fish.

Nature seems to be an extension of my children.... like another finger or toe! Something they are in every day. And while we may not live in the most ideal situation.... you know the farm with 20 acres and apple trees to climb in... the kids don't complain... they just play outside for hours. Digging up dirt. Rescuing dragonflies that make their way into the patio. Munching herbs in the garden and finding bugs. So many bugs.

And as I watch them run down a gravel path looking for caterpillars and shrieking with excitement and carefully hop or pause so as not to step on one.... noticing that itsy bitsy caterpillar beneath their rumbling feet... my heart swells up a bit. Because you know, it's not about the bugs. It's about that level of awareness and empathy for all the little creatures.... to see even the smallest of things. These kids will no doubt do great things one day.... and I'm sure that many of you that stop by here have got a few in your house that are just as amazing.

Comments

more bugs....

Guess What?

We found another bug no one likes :)

These are Salt Marsh Caterpillars and they are known for wreaking havoc on crops and in the swamp. These huge fuzzy caterpillars are everywhere at our favorite outdoor place to visit. The kids had great fun playing with them. Well, except for the white ones which seems to have stinging hairs on them...... that one was promptly dropped.... lesson learned. Fortunately the sting wasn't bad..... the longer we live here the more amazed I am by all the bugs!

This is a banana spider..... they get HUGE!!

By far my favorite thing to take pictures of is my kids out there exploring nature. Watching them look at each little creepy crawlie and plant and bird and whatever else is on their path. I'm sure many of you have heard of or read Last Child in the Woods. The book talks about all the things kids miss out on in a nature deprived childhood and how important it is for kids to develop a relationship with nature. So many kids are spending so little time outside. How can we teach our kids to save the world if they don't know it? If they don't know the smell of the earth and the feel of a slippery frog. The noise of different sized rocks splashing into the water. The excitement of watching a huge bird glide over the water to catch a fish.

Nature seems to be an extension of my children.... like another finger or toe! Something they are in every day. And while we may not live in the most ideal situation.... you know the farm with 20 acres and apple trees to climb in... the kids don't complain... they just play outside for hours. Digging up dirt. Rescuing dragonflies that make their way into the patio. Munching herbs in the garden and finding bugs. So many bugs.

And as I watch them run down a gravel path looking for caterpillars and shrieking with excitement and carefully hop or pause so as not to step on one.... noticing that itsy bitsy caterpillar beneath their rumbling feet... my heart swells up a bit. Because you know, it's not about the bugs. It's about that level of awareness and empathy for all the little creatures.... to see even the smallest of things. These kids will no doubt do great things one day.... and I'm sure that many of you that stop by here have got a few in your house that are just as amazing.